Sugar Ray asked: What basic safety equipment should I have on my boat before I consider going out on the water?

That is a great question. Even though you may know how to swim a PDF may save your life when you are milse from shore and if your boat runs into machinacal problems you will need some method of sending a distress signal (2 &3 ) and in if there is ever a fire on board you will need a fire extinguisher(4).

		You need to have a PFD (Personal Flotation Device) for every person onboard the boat. PFDs must be approved by the United States Coast Guard.
		In addition, if your boat is 16 feet or over, you need to have a throwable PFD onboard, and immediately available, in case someone falls overboard.
You already know that you should wear your PFD whenever you are underway. In many states, the law says you must wear your PFD when underway or when on a PWC or water skiing, etc. Don't take a chance - wear your PFD.

		Every boat needs a working whistle or horn to make sound. Boats over 30 feet have additional requirements.
You can attach a whistle to your PFD so that you always have a sound producing device within reach. Make sure it is a whistle that works when it gets wet. Remember - only use it in a real emergency.

		Visual Distress Signals should be carried on all boats operating on coastal waters (the ocean or waters that lead to the ocean), the Great Lakes and waters connected to them up to a point where the body of water is less than 2 miles wide. There are day signals and night signals. If you operate at night, you are required to carry night signals. Motor boats less than 16 feet and manually propelled boats are not required to carry signals if they only operate during daylight hours.
Pyrotechnic distress signals, like flares, can be very dangerous to you and to your boat if not used properly.

A U.S. Coast Guard approved, marine-type fire extinguisher should be carried on your boat in a place where you can get to it quickly and easily. Extinguishers are not required on boats that don't have motors or on outboard motorboats less than 26 feet if there are no permanent fuel tanks installed.